You’ve been flirting with someone online for a few weeks. They’re smart and funny and seem to have their life together. You’ve never had a video chat, but you exchange messages all the time. You’re getting more smitten by the day. There is only one problem: They are in desperate need of some cash for their mom’s upcoming surgery, and they will absolutely pay you back.
If you’re not too head over heels yet, this is where the alarm bells might start to go off. Your new boo might just be a catfish.
What is a catfish?
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A catfish is someone on the internet who pretends to be someone they’re not in order to manipulate or deceive the person on the other side of the screen, sometimes for the ultimate goal of getting money or revenge. Often, the catfish takes on an entire personality to gain the trust of their target.
How can I avoid being catfished?
Be careful with your personal information, and try not to send money to people you don’t know. You might want to use reverse image search to make sure that the photos you’ve been sent are legit.
If you still suspect she might not be who she says she is, it’s probably best to err on the side of caution. In the meantime, check out the graph below to see what percentage of men have admitted to sending money to a catfish.
